Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots over Latest York Knicks forward Taj Gibson (67) through the first half of an NBA basketball game in Latest York, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie)
NEW YORK — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points, seven assists and 7 rebounds, Bobby Portis added 23 points and 11 boards, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Latest York Knicks 130-111 on Saturday, opening a two-game series with their seventh straight victory.
Khris Middleton scored 20 points for the Bucks, who beat the Knicks for the ninth straight time and can attempt to do it again Monday in front of a national TV audience because the leadoff game to the NBA’s Christmas schedule.
“No, it’s not going to be easy, but you do the things that go into winning, you’ve got likelihood,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said.
Vintage Khris.
20 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 2 3PM pic.twitter.com/hQCDmcAYW4
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 23, 2023
An amazing likelihood, if the Bucks keep rolling the way in which they’ve against the Knicks this month.
The Knicks don’t have much time to seek out answers in what’s been a one-sided matchup, though they were a little bit more competitive than when the Bucks blew them out 146-122 on Dec. 5 within the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament.
“They’ve just seen us at different stages of the season, so far as who we’re as a team. I believe right away we’re at our greatest so far as this season goes,” Damian Lillard said.
It rarely felt particularly close, with the Bucks starting fast and maintaining a snug lead most of the way in which. They blew it open for good early within the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run that turned an 11-point lead right into a 114-92 cushion on Portis’ 3-pointer with 6:29 to play.
“They’ve got a variety of weapons, so that you’ve got to fly around and there’s times where we did it and times where we didn’t do it in addition to we must always have,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “But every aspect of the sport we were a step behind.”
Milwaukee just missed having five 20-point scorers to open its lengthy holiday stay in Latest York. After the rematch Monday, the Bucks will play Wednesday in Brooklyn, with some players either bringing family or hoping to go to some to have fun.
Lillard had 19 points, nine rebounds and 7 assists for the Bucks, and Malik Beasley made five 3-pointers en path to his 19 points.
Jalen Brunson scored 36 points in one other good game against Milwaukee, having poured in 45 in a Nov. 3 loss. Julius Randle added 26 points and 7 rebounds because the Knicks had a two-game winning streak snapped.
These teams can have already met 4 times after the Christmas game, after their quarterfinal game within the In-Season Tournament was added to their 4 that were already scheduled.
The Bucks picked up right where they left off in that victory, once they shot 60% overall and 60.5% from 3-point range. Milwaukee went 5 for 7 behind the arc within the opening quarter, taking a 36-27 lead.
The Bucks prolonged that to 60-44 on Lillard’s 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining within the half, however the Knicks closed with a 10-2 spurt to trim it to 62-54 when Brunson made a 3-pointer on the buzzer.
